A Saturday night at a popular indoor BMX track in Lake County ended in heartbreak after a 13-year-old boy from Hebron, Indiana, died following a serious crash. Authorities say the young rider suffered critical injuries while riding at the Steel Wheels BMX indoor track in Hobart, leaving the local BMX community and surrounding area in mourning.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Oliver Ball-Reed, 13. Officials said Oliver was riding at the facility when he was involved in a crash that caused multiple blunt-force injuries. Emergency crews were quickly called to the scene as fellow riders, staff, and family members looked on in shock.
Oliver was transported by emergency responders to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Hobart for treatment. Despite life-saving efforts by medical staff, he was pronounced dead just before 10 p.m. Saturday night. The coroner’s office ruled his death an accident, confirming there was no indication of foul play.
In a statement shared on social media, Steel Wheels BMX, a nonprofit organization that operates the indoor Hobart track and an outdoor course in Portage, confirmed that Oliver sustained critical injuries during the incident. The organization said the BMX community is grieving the loss of a young rider who had spent years dedicated to the sport he loved.
Steel Wheels BMX also extended heartfelt condolences to Oliver’s family, including his parents, Mary and Phil Ball-Reed, and his younger brother, Ellis. According to the organization, Oliver and Ellis had raced together for about eight years, forming a close bond through BMX racing that was well known among fellow riders and families.
Multiple agencies responded to the incident, including Hobart police, Hobart fire, and the Portage Fire Department, officials said. Authorities have not released specific details about what caused the crash or the conditions leading up to it. The incident remains under review as the community remembers a young life cut tragically short and honors a boy whose passion for BMX left a lasting impact on those who knew him.
